SHAUN WREX REDS HOPES
SHAUN McCoulsky handed Maidenhead United a last-gasp equaliser to put a debt in Wrexham’s title bid.
The Dragons were rocked just four minutes in when leading goal scorer Paul Mullin by referee David Richardson for a high foot on Josh Smile.
But, despite their numeric disadvantage, they went in front on 18 minutes when a long Ben Tozer throw found fellow centre-back Aaron Hayden, who converted well past Daniel Gyollai.
But the visitors, who beat both title hopefuls Chesterfield and FC Halifax Town last week, managed to pull it back at the death with McCoulskey left unmarked to head past Rob Lainton to make it all square.
Dejected Wrexham assistant manager Steve Parkin said: “It’s disappointing to concede the goal at the end because they hadn’t created any chances apart from that.
“The performance was good, we created chances with a man less against a team that has been playing well in the last few weeks.
“We’re bitterly disappointed with the decision early on in the game, but in general I thought the players did really well.”
The key decision came just four minutes in when striker Mullin clattered into Smile. Referee Richardson appeared to initially brandished the yellow card but then changed his mind and reduced Phil Parkinson’s side to ten men.
Parkin said: “It’s such an important decision so early on in the game so he has to get it right.
“From the video I’ve just watched, it looks like he’s in a really good position to make that decision and he looks like he’s about to give a yellow card.
“He then gets information from the assistant referee that he deems it to be more dangerous than he initially thought which I think we’re all finding difficult to take.”
Despite going down to ten men and their top scorer off the pitch, Wrexham continued to push forward but couldn’t quite find their clinical touch in front of goal.
Jordan Davies and Reece Hall-Johnson both went close for the Red Dragons, but Maidenhead managed to ride their luck and capitalised on it at the death when McCoulskey found the net to seal a point for Alan Devonshire’s side.
New £300,000 signing Ollie Palmer failed to add to his debut goal in midweek but Parkin says the former AFC Wimbledon striker been an excellent addition to the Wrexham squad.
“It’s been really good and a bit hectic for Ollie because he was moving house in London so he’s had a bit of to-ing and fro-ing,” he added.
“He seems a good lad, he’s trained properly this week and he’s played well for us again today.”
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